Apparatus and process for condensing casing-head gas and the like



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- G. E. GRAY APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONDENSING CASING HEAD (ms ANDTHE LIKE Filed Oct. 28 1920 n W W Patented @ct. 9, 123..

GEORGE E. GRAY, OF COMlI-TON, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONDENSING CASING-HEAD GAS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 28, 1920. Serial No. 420,259.

' T0 aZZwh-omitmay concern." I Be it known that I, Gnonon E. GRAY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Compton, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus and Processes for Condensing Casing-Head Gasand the like, of which the following is a specification. g y

This invention relates to the condensing of easing head gas and thelike, and has for itsobject the provision of means whereby the gas iscondensed by passing the same through a finely divided metallicsubstance such as metallic wool.

The invention also contemplates the saturating of the gas with a heavyhydrocarbon and then passing the same through the metallic wool in orderthat the heavy hydro carbon may combine with the gas so as to morereadily accomplish the condensing of the gas.

The invention will be readily understood from the following descriptionof the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the lines 2-2, 33 and 44 ofFig. 1'. In the drawings I have shown" the cylindrical tank 1 and asmaller cylindrical tank 2 alongside the same." Ports 3 and 4 arearranged in the top of tanks 1 and 2 and are connected by a pipe 5.,Stand pipes 6 and 7 extend upwardly within tanks 1 and 2 and areprovided with baffles 8 over .the ends of the same for preventing fluidflowing into said stand pipes. Discharge pipes 9 and 10 are arranged inthe respective tanks and are provided with cut off valves 11 controlledby floats 12 so as to open and permit the discharge of liquid from thetanks when the 'liquidreaches a predetermined level.

Transverse partitions 13 are arranged -in each of the tanks above standpipes 6 and 7 and these partitions are perforated as shown at 14 topermit the flow. of gases and liquid through the same. A suitable finelydivided metallic substance, which will not absorb the gases supplied tothe tanks such as metallic wool represented at 15, is placed upon eachof the partitions 13. condensing coil is, preferably, also arranged onthe partitions. Each of these condensing coils is shown as comprisingthe pipe 16 extending inwardly through the wall of the cylinder and thenarranged as a coil 17 upon each of the partitions 13 and surroundedbythe metallic wool with. pipe sections 18 connecting each of the coils.The lowermost coil is connected to an outlet pipe 19, and a flow ofcooling fluid, such as water, is maintained through the conduit as thusarranged by connecting inlet and discharge pipes 16-19' to a suitablewater reservoir provided with suitable means for, maintainingcirculation of the water.

One of the tanks, shown as tlrelarger tank 1, is provided with meanswhereby a fluid may be discharged into the tank for saturating the gasesin the sam As an instance of this arrangement a sprayhead 20 is arrangedin the top of tank 1 and is'connected by a pipe 21 to a pressurereservoir 22. This reservoi is in turn connected by a pipe 23 to thedischarge port of a suitable pump 24. The pump is supplied through pipe25 from a tank 26.

A by-p-ass 27, preferably, connects the stand pipe 7 andthe pumpcylinder, said by-pass being provided with a check valve 28 arranged toprevent back pressure through the same to the stand pipe. The by-passis, preferably, connected to the standpipe below its supply pipe 7 inorder to form a trap 30.

In operation a suitable heavy hydrocarbon such as kerosene is suppliedto tank 26, and either stand pipe 6 or stand pipe 7 is connected to thesource of supply of the gases to be condensed, while the other of saidstand pipes is connected to suit-able d1s- .cha-rge means for thegaseous residue remaining after the condensation of the gases of theheavy hydrocarbon. In practice, when condensing easing head gas theapparatus will be found to operate more efiicient- 1y if the supply pipe7 of stand pipe 7 is connected to the wellcasing so that the gas to becondensed will first flow through tank 2 and thence into tank 1. In thisarrangement the pipe leading to stand pipe 6 is connected to suitablereceivingmeans for the gaseous residue of the process. The gas suppliedthrough the stand pipe 7 will rise in tank 2 and thus pass through themetallic wool 15'. The intimate contact between the gases and themetallic wool, which is at a lower temperature will cool the gases andcause condensation of the same. The provision of the cooling coils 17will assist in through pipe. into tank 1.

the coolingofithe gases. The liquid of con densation will HOW to thebottom of the tank, and when a sufficient amount has accumulated will bedischarged through pipe to a suitable receptacle.

The gas which reaches the top of tank 2 without having been condensedwill flow At this point heavy hydrocarbon from tank 26 will bedischarged through spray head sooas to saturate the gas, and thesaturated gas flowing downwardly through tank 1 will be .con-

densed by the action of the cooling coils and metallic, wool upon thepartitions of this tank. The liquid of condensation flowing to thebottom of tanlr 1 will be collected through pipe 9 when a sufficientamount has accumulated to open valve 11. The non-condensable portions ofthe casing head gas will be discharged through stand pipe 6.

It will be noted that, the action of pump- A 24-. will draw a smallamount of the gas entering stand pipe 7 through by-pass 27 into the pumpand will force the same With the heavy hydrocarbon 26 into the pressurereservoir 22. The action of this gas at the top of the pressurereservoir will. form a cushion within the same, and any portion of saidgas which is condensed will flow with the heavy hydrocarbon through pipe21 to the spray, head 20 where it will be returned to tank l.

Various changes may departing from the spirit of the invention asclaimed. I I

-What is'claimed is:

1. A condenser comprising a plurality of receptacles having a gasconduit connecting them at the top, additional conduits communicatingwith the respective receptacles, one of said additional conduits forminga gas inlet and the other of said additional conduits forming adischarge for uncondensed gases, finely divided, non-absorbent metal liccontact substance arranged in layers within said receptacles, drainsleading from'the respective receptacles, and a supply pipe extendinginto the top of one of said recep tacles and provided with a spraydevice.

2. A condenser for gases comprising a receptacle having a gas inlet, agas outlet, a drain for the condensed gases, supply means leading intosaid receptacle, means for pumping fluid through said supply means,

be made without A and means for drawing a portion of the gas supply tosaid receptacle into said supply means. i

3. A condenser) for gases comprising a receptacle having a gas inlet,-agas discharge,

a drain for 'the condensed gases, a supply p1pe leading intosaidcreceptacle, a reservoir connected to said pipe, means for pumpingfluid into said reservoir and said pipe, and means for drawing a portionof the gas supply to said receptacle into said reservoir to form acushion.

4:. The process of condensing hydrocar bon gases which consistsofintroducing the gas into a receptacle provided with cooled layers offinely divided,- metallic, contact substance, said layers beingcontinuously cooled by the passing of a c'ircu ating cooling liquidtherethrough, subjecting the gases to the action of said substance bypassing them through the layers, draining away the condensed gases fromthe receptacle, and

leading 01? the uncondensed gases from the top of the receptacle into asecond recep: tacle, subjecting the gases therein to action of finelydivided, metallic, contact substance and at the same time spraying aliquid hy- A drocarbon into the second receptacle and carrying off thecondensed and uncondensed gases separately.

finely divided, metallic, contact substance.

and at the same time spraying a liquid hydrocarbon into. the secondreceptacle and carrying off the condensed and uncondensed productsseparatelyiand establishing apressure'of the gas, to be treated, uponthe hydrocarbon before it is sprayed into the second receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' GEORGE E. GRAY.

